<p>Two days after the Karnataka Central Diocese <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/bengaluru-bishop-cotton-st-john-s-principals-suspended-1126484.html" target="_blank">suspended the principal of St John’s High School</a>, sources close to the development said she had been removed over fee concessions she had sanctioned.</p>.<p>The diocese, affiliated to the Church of South India, is learnt to have taken the decision on the basis of allegations that principal N Shantha Susheela had accepted bribes from students’ parents to waive fees for the last academic year.</p>.<p>A source close to the suspended principal said she had given the waivers on humanitarian grounds.</p>.<p>“Some parents had cited their poor post-Covid financial situation and requested waivers. The concessions were made in 2021 on the fees for 2020, a year when children could not attend school because of the lockdowns,” the source told <em>DH</em> on Friday. </p>.<p>The executive committee of the diocese on Monday suspended Shantha and S Edwin Christopher, principal of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, without formally communicating the charges to them.</p>.<p>Rev Prasanna Kumar Samuel, bishop of the diocese, in a letter dated July 13 to Shantha, said the committee had taken note of “serious allegations” and was initiating an inquiry.</p>.<p>She was directed to hand over her responsibilities to vice-principal Vanaja Rajathi.</p>.<p><em>DH</em> reported the suspensions in an exclusive on Thursday.</p>.<p>A diocesan member said the proceedings against Christopher were not in line with the principles of natural justice as he was not given a fair hearing.</p>.<p>Another member of the church said there was disillusionment among the members regarding the developments but they were stopping short of an open call for transparency and corrective measures.</p>.<p>“It is unfortunate that instead of leading by example, we are letting ourselves down,” the member said, requesting anonymity.</p>
<p>Two days after the Karnataka Central Diocese <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/bengaluru-bishop-cotton-st-john-s-principals-suspended-1126484.html" target="_blank">suspended the principal of St John’s High School</a>, sources close to the development said she had been removed over fee concessions she had sanctioned.</p>.<p>The diocese, affiliated to the Church of South India, is learnt to have taken the decision on the basis of allegations that principal N Shantha Susheela had accepted bribes from students’ parents to waive fees for the last academic year.</p>.<p>A source close to the suspended principal said she had given the waivers on humanitarian grounds.</p>.<p>“Some parents had cited their poor post-Covid financial situation and requested waivers. The concessions were made in 2021 on the fees for 2020, a year when children could not attend school because of the lockdowns,” the source told <em>DH</em> on Friday. </p>.<p>The executive committee of the diocese on Monday suspended Shantha and S Edwin Christopher, principal of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, without formally communicating the charges to them.</p>.<p>Rev Prasanna Kumar Samuel, bishop of the diocese, in a letter dated July 13 to Shantha, said the committee had taken note of “serious allegations” and was initiating an inquiry.</p>.<p>She was directed to hand over her responsibilities to vice-principal Vanaja Rajathi.</p>.<p><em>DH</em> reported the suspensions in an exclusive on Thursday.</p>.<p>A diocesan member said the proceedings against Christopher were not in line with the principles of natural justice as he was not given a fair hearing.</p>.<p>Another member of the church said there was disillusionment among the members regarding the developments but they were stopping short of an open call for transparency and corrective measures.</p>.<p>“It is unfortunate that instead of leading by example, we are letting ourselves down,” the member said, requesting anonymity.</p>